St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-30

louS StroVe within her against meek
consciousness of the Soiemnity of the
words just quoted; but the farm hasn't
done as well this year as we expected it
to do, and until all the outstanding
debts are paid i think it would be
scarcely just to indulge myself in the
luxury of subscribing to the Fund for
Evangelizing the Eb0e IndianS.'"
Mrs. Biggard clasped the little red
morocco subscription book with a click
Ing sound.
-.Humph!'' said she, "why don't you
say at once that you had rather spend
your money i'll navy blue silk gowns and
tiashy bonnetS?''
Mary Redeemed to the roots of her
hair.
Perhaps you are not aware" Mrs.
Bidgard." said she, THAT the navy blue
dress was mothers old one dyed over at
home, and that the bonnet was present
from my aunt in Springfield"
All very well to talk" sputtered
Mrs. Biggard, shaking out her multitude
NOUS nG91s fiounees; But l know that I'M; MI
pointed. He expects something besides
empty talk from the ladies of his flock"
Once more the roSeate color suffused
Mary'S cheek.
My duty is my duty she said, ssand
cannot swerye from il to please any
one, not even Mr.. Mildmay."
And the amiable Mrs. Biggard went
straight to the rector and told Mr.. Mild
may THAT Mary Hay said she warn't
a-goin' to subscribe to the fund to please
Mr.. Mildmay nor anyone else"
The rector listened in silence, but
he was conscious of pang Of inward
annoyance.
he had scarcely expected so curt a
message from Mary Hay. in whose dove
like blue eyes he had SO often read the
light of sympathy, whose dOwncaSt head
reminded him of the beautiful mater
Dolorosa.''
$50 different from my Ruey. now,
amt sheep said Mrs. Biggard. ''Why,
Ruey, she's fairly walked through the
soleS of a pair o. boots a-solicitin' sub
scriptions for the fund. There never
was nobody SO deyOut as she is. And
she wants to knOw-my Ruey does
whether she and Almiry shan't come
over to the rectory an put up the parlor
curtains for you this afternoOn@'
''Thank you!" said Mr.. Mildmay, with
something of an embarrassed air; shut
/ dare say that Bridget will do very
well. l wouldn't trouble Miss Zeruiah,
and"
20, it wont be no trouble at ALL" said
Mrs. Biggard.
And off she went to give the needful
directions to Zeruiah and Almira, her
lean middle-aged daughters.
Il do feel such motherly sympathy
for bacheldore elergyman.'' said she.
There amt no more helpless ereatur on
the face Of the EARTH"
While Mary Hay, busy at her work
in the farmhouse kitchen, was puZzling
her brains to think of some possible or
impossible plan to get little money to
help kind Mr.. Mihmay's plan along.
Il wish l could spare something" she
said, IF it was only dollar"
II wish you could, my DEAR" said
gentle Mrs. Hay, who had overheard the
eager words.
Mother" cried Mary, ''there are the
QuinceS-down by the railroad! Why
couldn't l sell them at the store? The
trees hang full this year, and the fruit is
beautifully perfect"
L never thought of that said Mrs.
Hay, I'VE will go tomorrow and gather
them, Mary, you and l.
Mary went singing about her work
that afternoon. Her heart was light as
any feather. Why, why had she not re-
membered the ounce tree before?
Ounces were rare and high-priced this
season, and she thought she was certain
of at least So for the crop.
But the next day, when she and her
mother-MTS. Hay carrying the basket
and Mary merrily trundling the barrow
along before her-went down to the
orchard, whose slopes extended to the
glittering steel rails of the railway, 10,
and behold the trees were utterly
stripped of their golden load.
Mary burst into tears. She sat down
On the edge of the wheelbarrow and hid
her head in her mothers apron like
child.
so, mother. who has done this?" she
cried. WHO can have been SO wicked
so cruel?''
s'It's the boys, Pm afraid" said Mrs.
Hay. ssDon't fret, daughter-don't!
It's done, and it can't be helped"
1.-The boys never served us so BEFORE"
said Mary between her sobs. ''Yes,
mother, you are right 1t can't be
helped. Let us go home. There is an
end of the subscription money now"
Slowly and sadly the two women
barrow and the basket. Mr.. Hay, just
returned from the harvest field, heard
their. story with amaZement.
Its the first time that ever tree of
mine was robbed," said he. Il didn't
know as we had such boys in this
neighborhood, but, look here. Polly.
don't cry" laying his broad, brown hand
soothingly ON his daughters shoulder.
'.It's always darkest Just before day
D.
Blake paid me for the hay in the up
medder. / was going to take it toward
the taxes, but | guess taxes can wait"
mo, father" said Mary, "our Just
debts are our just debts. oughtn't to
touch this money"
'sSquinches, en-" said Luke Larrabee,
who had come in with a stone pitcher
for gallon of Mrs. Hays cider vinegar
.'SquincheS is mighty scuSS this season.
l see Mrs. Biggard'S folks DOM up a
sight on 'em when ] was over there this
morning. Mrs. Biggard, she's dreadful
churchy, you know, and the parSon he'd
said he was partial to preserved
squinches; and there was she and Ruey
and Almiry tuckering like all possessed
to get 'em DONE"
"Why, whar did We get all them ere
Bquinches?"
.1Says she:
'.I bought them of boy at the door,.
ssSays I:
%'No, We didn't, Electa Biggard: We
got 'em last night outen old Farmer
Hays side-llill squinch orchard, clus to
the Railroad says L, ''cause seen you
and Ruey a-carryin' the clothes basket
between you, and it was cram jam full
o. big yaller squincheS.'
s'And so l did, for our cow she got
outen the field and wandered quite
ways down the railroad, and l was
huntin' of her by moonlight, when
seen them from behind them ere sassa-
fras bushes down by the railroad track.
Wal, you should have seen her turn red
der than the big bell-peppers out in the
says she. Mary Hay she give 'em to me-
ss'O,' says l, that's horse of another
color says /.
'.But now it appears, with his shabby,